An interview with Yusuke Soejima and Park Seong-sa (the head of indie games on Nintendo platforms) has provided quite a bit of information regarding the indie scene as handled by the reputed Nintendo, revealing that the Switch Eshop has no indies section because they are afraid consumers may despise it.
According to the interview, it also seems that Nintendo holds indie titles on the same level as a “real” game from a larger corporation, a fact that some may believe contributes to Nintendo’s issues with catering mainly towards children.
Interviewer: We mentioned this at the start of the interview, but compared to other platforms, the Nintendo Switch eShop treats indie games with equal value as a game from a large corporation. In recent years, ‘indies’ have come into a brand of their own, especially overseas, and the number of players who prioritize indie gaming continue to increase as well.
Park Seong-sa: As we are in the midst of collaborating with various indie games, it would be great to see them become an attractive brand of their own. However, Japan has a lower recognition of indie games than overseas, and so first we’d like to have our consumers recognize the attractive points of indie games. We don’t want to ‘differentiate’ based on the fact it is an indie game.
Interviewer: What do you mean by ‘differentiate’?
Park: For example, if we do create an indie game store, and customers start to think that there are only bad games there, then they will stop looking at the store. If it comes to that, it’s possible they would stop looking at any game just because they are ‘indie’.
Interviewer: So the indie game branding has the danger of working negatively.
Park: While it would be nice if the indie game branding guaranteed a great game with great value, on the other hand the possibility that the same game becomes unaccepted by the wider audience because of its branding still exists. That is something we must avoid at all costs.
Interviewer: Are there any cases of Nintendo working with indie developers to publish their games? Also, will there be this sort of collaboration in the future?
Park: There are several cases from the past. During the Wii U era, we helped publish several titles in Japan under the theme of games that might interest the Japanese audience.
Yusuke Soejima: While Shovel Knight was released abroad earlier by Yacht Club Games, Nintendo handled the publishing of the game in Japan, alongside the amiibo functionality.
Park: On the Nintendo Switch, there is Snipperclips: Cut It Out Together. Also, Nintendo published Flip Wars outside of Japan.
Soejima: While we have these past examples, we don’t have anything to speak of for the future. In the Wii U era, it was difficult for games to release in Japan, but now the hurdle for global releases has gone down a lot, so overseas developers can release their software easier. In the end, there is less of a need for us to step in and help out.
Despite being afraid that consumers may associate “bad games” with “indie”, Nintendo seem to have overlooked their ability to apply some quality standards, although seeing how Steam seems to be handling this their skepticism can perhaps be appreciated.
The entire interview can be read online now.
He’s right though. If all they have is a bunch of poorly made indie games, most people would associate the word with low quality. Just like “English original visual novel” is now equivalent to “s♥♥t game.”
How did that brand of AIDS start anyway? Weebs looking to make a quick buck?
Probably thanks to Twaster Bandar Xtrum getting a billion dollars funding.
Is that what you call shovel Knight, cave story, and blaster master zero? :^)
I think he was talking about english VN, not indies.
And he is right tbh.
All you have to do is look at the cover image. If it’s a teal and orange toned white man with a gun, it’s probably an AAA game.
Makes sense. Smart move to ease them into the realization that Indie =/= bad.
The term indie game is stupid in itself. Everytime I read that, I think they are games created from India.
That’s where Indiana Jones comes from, right?
Hindi does kind of sound like indie… Or even Indy (Jones, of course)!
Indie means independant, it’s not that hard.
so they only branch out and forge ahead when they have a terrible idea. but when they have the chance to get something truly original they cower in fear and bail. I get it now.